Motorized ductor roll

ABSTRACT

An improved apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press includes a motor which drives the ductor roll as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll. The ductor roll is pivotally mounted about the output shaft of the motor and is driven by the motor by drive means connecting the output shaft and the ductor roll. The drive means has a variable ratio such that the ductor roll may be driven at a rotational speed which may be varied with respect to the rotational speed of the motor. Sensing means is provided to sense a first position of the ductor roll and to actuate the motor so that the ductor roll is accelerated by the motor when moving between the fountain roll and the ink receiving roll. A speed sensor is provided to sense the rotational speed of the ductor roll and provides a signal to the motor to thereby control the rotational speed of the ductor roll.

United States Patent Treff 1 Sept. 5, 1972 ['54] MOTORIZED DUCTOR ROLL 3,411,442 11/1968 Muhlich 101/148 Inventor: H. fi, M ord Co e Treff Grown, Confl- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 Asslgnee= Harris-Interim? (391119195911, 506,823 10/1954 Canada ..101/3s2 Cleveland, Ohio 690,231 7/1964 Canada ..101/352 22 il May 8 1970 17,483 7/ 1915 Great Britain 101/351 PP 35,741 Primary Examiner-J. Reed Fisher Attorney-Yount & Tarolli [52] US. Cl.- ..10l/350, 101/148 51 1111. C1. .1141: 31/14 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..101/D1G. 6, 348, 349, 350, An improved apparatus for accelerating the ductor 101/351, 322, 363, 148, 356-358, 360-362, roll of a printing press includes a motor which drives 206-209 the ductor roll as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll. The ductor roll [56] R f rences Cit d is pivotally mounted about the output shaft of the motor and is driven by the motor by drive means con- UNTTED STATES PATENTS necting the output shaft and the ductor roll. The drive 1,980,639 11/1934 Schlesinger ..101/3s0 means has a variable Yati Such that the duct 3,026 795 3/1962 Dietrich ..101/14s may he drive at a rtahhal speed which may he 1 927 759 9/1963 Spence ..10l/356 varied respect mtahma Speed the 2690120 9/1954 Burroughs 101/350 x tor. Sensing means is provided to sense a first position 3276363 10/1966 a' 'g j'g 'g 101/349 of the ductor roll and to actuate the motor so that the 1452043 4/1923 Harrow "'101/363 ductor roll is accelerated by the rnotor when moving 3412677 11,1968 Kamor "101/148 between the fountain roll and the 111k receiving roll. A 212o978 6/1938 Huck "101/350 speed sensor is provided to sense the rotational speed I of the ductor roll and provides a signal to the motor to gg z f thereby control the rotational speed of the ductor roll. 1,442,728 1/ 1923 Meyer ..318/327 23 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PHENTEBSEP 51912 3.688.696

SHEET 1 [If 3 r- MOTOR l l l MCI/044E761? 70) 76 CONTROL c/ecu/r Mao/10.7mm,

FIG. 2

Wi t-W70? ERA/E87 H TREFF 4 TIDRA/EYS PATENTEI'Jssrfs tan 3.688.696 V sum 2 or 3 FIG. 5 v m/mwm? ERA/E87 H 7-255 ay MM MOTORIZED DUCTOR ROLL The present invention provides an apparatus for driving the ductor roll of a printing press, and more particularly, an apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll as it moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll.

During normal operation of a printing press, the ductor roll in an inker assembly turns at a relatively low peripheral speed while the ductor roll is in contact with and receives ink from the fountain roll. The ductor roll then traverses the distance between the fountain roll and the first ink receiving roll in the ink train. During this movement, the ductor roll either continues to rotate at the low peripheral speed of the fountain roll or comes to a standstill as a result of friction in the ductor roll bearings. When the ductor roll contacts the first ink receiving roll in the ink train, it is necessary for the ink train roll to transfer a significant amount of rotational energy to the ductor roll in order to bring it up to the relatively high peripheral speed of the ink train roll. Since the ink train roll is driven by the press drive, this results in rotational shock loading on the press drive and has an adverse effect on instantaneous register and other printing quality factors; The Treff application, Ser. No. 853,139 now US. Pat; No. 3,590,735, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses an effort at solving these problems.

The immediate invention also solves the above-noted problems by providing a motor which drives the ductor roll, as the ductor roll moves between the fountain roll and the ink receiving roll, independently of the printing press drive. A sensing means is provided to sense a first position of the ductor roll after the ductor roll has received ink from the fountain roll and is adapted to actuate the motor for driving the ductor roll such that the ductor roll is accelerated from the relatively low rotational speed of the fountain roll to the relatively high rotational speed of the ink receiving roll as the ductor roll moves toward the ink receiving roll. A speed sensor is provided to sense the rotational speed of the ductor roll as it is accelerated by the motor and is adapted to control the motor and consequently, the maximum rotational speed of the ductor roll. The control is such that when the ductor roll contacts the ink receiving roll, its peripheral speed is approximately the same as the ink receiving roll and the rotational shock loading on the press drive is substantially eliminated thereby.

The apparatus of the present invention pivotally mounts the ductor roll about the output shaft of the motor to provide a mechanically simplified device. Drive means is included which adjusts the relative rotational speed of the ductor roll with respect to the rotational speed of the motor so that when the ductor roll is reground (as a result of wear) the change in the peripheral speed of the ductor roll which results may be compensated. The drive means of the apparatus of the present invention also provides a pulley secured to the ductor roll and another pulley secured to the output shaft of the motor. At least one of the pulleys is adjustable so that after the ductor roll is reground, the diameter of the pulley can be adjusted to maintain a predetermined peripheral speed of the ductor roll.

The accelerating mechanism of the present invention provides an improved accelerating apparatus over the prior art devices by providing a greater degree of control over the rotational speed of the ductor roll and provides a more simplified mechanism while allowing for practical variations and practical considerations in such a design.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press and which includes a motor for accelerating the ductor roll independently of the printing press drive before the ductor rollcontacts an ink receiving roll in the ink train.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press which is movable between a first position engaging an ink supply roll and a second position engaging an ink receiving roll to transport inkv from the ink supply roll to the ink receiving roll and wherein a source of power independent of the press drive is provided for accelerating the ductor roll to the peripheral speed of the ink receiving roll during movement of the ductor roll from the first position to the second position to thereby tend to minimize changes in the load on the press drive upon engagement of the ductor roll with the ink receiving roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press which includes a sensing means for sensing a first position of theductor roll upon receiving ink from the ink supply roll and means is adapted to actuate the motor to drive the ductor roll as the ductor roll moves between the first and second positions such that the ductor roll is accelerated thereby.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press which includes a circuit for sensing a first position of the ductor roll upon receiving ink from the ink supply roll and providing a signal to a motor drivingly connected to the ductor roll such that the ductor roll is rotatably accelerated as it moves to a second position adjacent to the ink receiving roll and whereby a control means limits the rotational speed of the ductor about it is rotatably accelerated by the motor between the first and second positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press which includes a motor for accelerating the ductor roll as it moves between a first position receiving ink from an ink supply roll and a second position supplying ink to an ink receiving roll wherein the ductor roll is pivotally mounted about the output shaft of the motor and drivingly connected thereto such that the ductor roll moves from the first position to the second position pivotally about the output shaft of the motor.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press which includes a motor drivingly connected to the ductor roll such that the relative rotational speed of the ductor roll may be varied with respect to the rotational speed of the motor.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press which includes a speed sensor for sensing the rotational speed of the ductor roll and controlling the speed of the motor relative thereto.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a printing press constructed in accordance with the present invention having a ductor roll accelerating mechanism incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the controls for the ductor roll accelerating mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of the ductor roll accelerating mechanism shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the ductor roll accelerating mechanism shown in FIG. 3 taken along the lines 4-4.

Although it is contemplated that a ductor roll accelerating mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention can be utilized to accelerate a ductor roll associated with different parts of a printing press, a ductor roll accelerating mechanism is illustrated in FIG. I in association with an inker assembly 12 of a lithographic printing press 14. The lithographic printing press 14 includes a pair of blanket cylinders 18 and 20 for printing on opposite sides of a web 22. The blanket cylinder 18 cooperates with a plate cylinder 26 to which ink is applied in a known manner by the inker assembly 12 and to which moisture is applied by a dampener assembly 28. Of course, a similar plate cylinder, inker assembly and dampener cooperate with the blanket cylinder 20.

The inker assembly 12 includes a plurality of rollers forming an ink train 32 which spreads a film of ink until it becomes sufficiently thin for application to a printing plate on the plate cylinder 26. In accordance with common practice, the rolls of the ink train 32 are driven by the press drive, indicated schematically at 36 in FIG. 1.

The press drive 36 also drives the blanket cylinders 18 and 20 and the associated plate cylinders through a suitable gear arrangement.

In addition to the ink train 32, the inker assembly 12 includes an ink fountain or supply 40 having a fountain or ink supply roll 42 which is driven at a' relatively low peripheral speed by a motor 44. However, if desired, the fountain roll 42 could be driven by the press drive 36. A ductor roll 48 transports ink from the slowly rotating fountain roll 42 to the first or ink receiving roll 52 of the ink train 32. The ink train roll 52 is driven at a relatively high peripheral speed, compared to the fountain roll 42, by the press drive 36.

. When the ductor roll 48 is in a position such that it engages the fountain roll 42 (as shown in dashed lines in FIG. I) the ductor roll 48 is driven by the fountain roll 42 at a relatively low peripheral speed. The fountain roll 42 provides the ductor roll with a coating of ink as the ductor roll rotates in contact therewith.

After a coating of ink has been applied to the ductor roll 48 by the fountain roll 42, the ductor roll is moved into engagement with the ink train roll 52 (as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1). The ductor roll 48 is maintained in engagement with the ink train roll 52 a sufficient period of time to transfer a coating of ink to the roll 52. During this engagement of the ductor roll 48 with the ink train roll 52, the ductor roll is driven at the relatively high peripheral speed of the ink train roll 52. After a coating of ink has been transferred to the ink train roll 52, the ductor roll 48 is moved back into engagement with the fountain roll 42.

If the ductor roll 48 is brought into engagement with the ink train roll 52 while rotating at the relatively low peripheral speed of the fountain roll 42, the ductor roll will be accelerated to the peripheral speed of the ink train 52 by the ink train roll. This results in the application of the transient load on the press drive 36 and tends to cause instantaneous color misregister or doubling due to the rotational shock loading on the press drive 36.

In accordance with the present invention the ductor roll 48 is accelerated to the peripheral-speed of the ink train roll 52 by a source of power which is independent of the press drive 36 before the ductor roll is moved and 4. The motor 60 has an output shaft-62 drivingly I connected by drive means 64 to the ductor roll 48 as shown in FIG. 4. Means for pivotally mounting the duetor roll 48 about the axis of the output shaft 62 are included and generally designated at 66.

The motor 60 is used to drive the ductor roll 48 as it moves from the fountain roll '42 into engagement with the ink receiving roll 52 to bring the ductor roll up to the same peripheral speed as the ink receiving roll 52. In the illustrated embodiment, a switch 68, shown schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3, provides power to the motor 60 through a control circuit to operate the motor when the switch 68 is actuated. The switch 68 is actuated to start the motor as the ductor roll moves from a first position, such as the position 72, shown in FIG. 1, to a second position, such as the position 74. Preferably, the switch 68 is actuated to start the motor just as the ductor roll 72 leaves engagement with the fountain roll so that the ductor roll rotates at the speed of the fountain roll while in engagement therewith. The motor is then controlled so that the ductor roll 48 has a relatively high peripheral speed approximating the speed of roll 53 when it contacts the ink receiving roll 52. It is desirable that the ductor roll and the ink receiving roll have the same peripheral speeds when the ductor roll engages the ink receiving roll.

As the ductor roll 48 is accelerated by the motor 60, the rotational speed of the ductor roll 48 is sensed by a speed sensing device such as the tachometer 76. The tachometer 76 is drivingly connected to the motor 60 so as to sense the rotational speed of the motor 60.

When the motor 60 and consequently the ductor roll 48 attain a predetermined speed sensed by the tachometer 76, the tachometer provides a signal to the control circuit 70 to turn off the motor 60. The speed setting at which the motor 60 is stopped may be related to the position of the ductor roll so that the ductor roll is approximately at the speed of the ink receiving roll It should be understood that the tachometer 76 may also be drivingly connected to any particular part of the drive means 64 or the ductor roll 48 that will drive the tachometer at a speed proportional to the speed of the ductor roll 48. When the ductor roll 48 is reground, the speed setting on the tachometer 76 may be adjusted so that a predetermined peripheral speed of the ductor roll is attained prior to contact of the ductor roll with the ink receiving roll 52.

It should be understood that after the control circuit 70 is actuated by the switch 68, the motor 60 is activated thereby as the ductor roll 48 moves from the first position 72 to the second position 74. When the motor 60 is stopped, the ductor roll 48 is driven by the ink receiving roll 52 and the motor 60 no longer drives the ductor roll 48 until the ductor roll returns to the first position 72 and switch 68 is again actuated. However, since the motor 60 is a low inertia printed circuit motor, little drag or resistance to rotation of the ductor roll 48 by engagement with the roll 52 occurs, and no detrimental effect results therefrom.

A specific form of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the disclosed embodiment, the printed circuit motor 60 is secured to the frame 80 of the printing press. The tachometer 76 is drivingly connected to one end of the output shaft 62 of the motor 60. The other end of the shaft 62 is drivingly connected to an output shaft 82 by a coupling 84. The shaft 82 is rotatably mounted with respect to the press frame 80 by a bearing 86. It should be understood that the output shaft 82 and the output shaft 62 of the motor 60 are oriented along the same rotational axes. Thus, as the motor 60 rotates, the output shaft 82 rotates at a rotational speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the output shaft 62 of the motor 60.

The bearing 86 is held by a retaining member 88 which is secured to the printing press frame 80. An adjustable pulley 90 is drivingly connected to the output shaft 82 by any conventional means such as a set screw or other device. The adjustable pulley 90 may be adjusted such that the imaginary pitch circle in which the belts 92 are located may be varied such that the rotational speed of the ductor roll 48 may be changed with respect to the output speed of the motor 60. Such an adjustment is generally required upon regrounding of the ductor roll 48. The adjustable pulley 90 is of conventional construction and will not be described in detail. The adjustment thereof is effected as is well known' by movement of the spaced flanges of the pulley toward or away from each other.

A pulley 94 is secured to the ductor roll 48 such that the belts 92 engage a peripheral portion thereof to transmit power from the output shaft 82 to the ductor roll 48. It should be understood that when the pitch circle of the adjustable pulley 90 is varied, the relative rotational speeds of the output shaft 82 and the ductor roll 48 are varied thereby. It should be further understood that any drive means may be included to drivingly connect the output shaft 82 to the ductor roll 48 and the disclosed embodiment provides for adjustment of the rotational speeds of the output shaft 82 with respect to the ductor roll 48.

The ductor roll 48 is rotatably mounted on the means 66 for pivotally mounting the ductor roll 48 about the output shaft 62. The means 66 includes an adjustable arm 96 and a pivotal member 98. The adjustable member 96 rotatably engages the ductor roll 48 and positions the rotational axis of the ductor roll a predetermined distance away from the pivotal axis of the means 66 which is substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the output shaft 82.

The adjustable member 96 is adjustably secured to the pivotal member 98 by means of the fastening device 100. The adjustable arm 96 has a'slot therein to receive the threaded member 102. Thus, when the threaded assembly 100 is not securing the adjustable arm 96 to the pivotal member 98, the adjustable arm may be moved with respect thereto. This allows the ductor roll to be adjusted with respect to the fountain roll 42 and an ink receiving roll 52. When the adjustment is made, the threaded assembly 100 secures the adjustable arm 96 to the pivotal member 98.

To provide a more accurate adjustment of the respective rotational centers of the ductor roll 48 and the pivotal axis of the pivotal member 98, an adjustment means 104 is provided and includes a threaded fastener 106 received by the adjustable member 96 and threadedly engaged by the pivotal member 98. A lock nut 108 is associated with the threaded fastener 106. The threaded fastener 106 is used to adjust thecenter position of the rotational axis of the ductor roll 48 with respect to the pivotal axis of the pivotal member 98 and the lock nut 108 is used to lock the adjustable member 96 in position with respect thereto. The threaded assembly is then tightened to further secure the adjustable member 96 with respect to the pivotal member 98 and thus an adjustment is effected between the rotational axis of the ductor roll 48 and the pivotal axis of the pivotal member 98. j I

The pivotal member 98 has an opening 110 therein adapted to receive a bushing 112 which encircles the member 88. The busing 112 in the disclosed embodiment has an axis substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the output shaft 82. The pivotal member 98 is adapted to pivot about the bearing 112 to effect movement of the ductor roll 48 between the fountain roll 42 and ink receiving roll 52. The pivotal member 98 is driven by a pivotal drive 53.

The pivotal drive 53 includesacam 116 drivingly connected to a shaft 118 which is driven by the drive unit of the press such that the cam 116 rotates in synchronization with the printing press. The pivotal member 98 has a cam follower 120 secured thereto. As the cam 116 rotates during operation of the printing press, the cam follower 120 is urged toward the cam 116 such that engagement is maintained therebetween. In the disclosed embodiment, the biasing means 122 is provided for such a purpose.

The biasing means 122 includes a threaded member 124 received by an opening 126 in the pivotal member 98. The threaded member passes through an opening 128 in a member 130 which is pivotally connected by means of the pin 132 to the frame 80 of the printing press. The spring 134 is provided and engages the member 130 and a threaded member 136 secured to the threaded member 124 and thereby biases the cam follower 120 toward the cam 116. The threaded member 136 may be adjusted along the length of the threaded member 124 such that the biasing force is varied thereby. Thus, it can be seen as the cam 116 rotates with the press, the ductor roll 48 is moved The switch 68 and magnet 140 are adjustable relative to each other such that the first position of the ductor roll at which the motor 60 is activated may be correspondingly adjusted. It should be understood that other switching techniques may be used to provide a switching signal to the control circuit when the ductor roll 48 is in the first position.

It should be apparent from the above that the variable drive ratiopulley 90 provides for adjustment of the drive ratio between the shaft 82 and the ductor roll 48. As the ductor roll 48 wears, it is reground to a reduced diameter, as noted above. As the diameter thereof is reduced, the full speed RPM of the ductor roll. rises relative to press speed, since the surface speed of the ductor'48 equals press speed. The adjustment of the variable drive ratio pulley 90 compensates for any such change in RPMs of the ductor roll 48. To effect this compensation electrically would involve extra electrical hardware.

Moreover, the same ductor lever travel is used regardless of the ductor diameter. Consequently, the ductor axis must be repositioned with every diameter change of the ductor so that the ductor will meet the fountain roll and vibrator properly. This results in a change in the center distance between the ductor 48 and the motor output shaft 82. As a result, the same V- belt could not be used because of this change in center distance, unless some compensating changes are made. 'Onesuch compensating change could be the use of an idler tightening pulley, however, space is limited, making such impractical. In the present invention, the variable drive ratio pulley 90 solves this problem. More specifically, the variable drive ratio-pulley 90 has been constructed so that the same belt or belts 92 can be used, regardless of ductor diameter. This is effected due to the fact that the variable drive ratio pulley 90 is designed to adjust the drive ratio proportionally to the desired ductor RPM. Accordingly, the same belt can be used and the motor shut-off speed is the same for all ductor diameters.

It should be further apparent that the present invention provides an apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of the printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink-receiving roll which increases the rotational speed of the ductor roll before the ductor roll contacts the ink-receiving roll and thereby eliminates unnecessary shock loading of the printing press drive and, consequently, improves the register'and decreases the amount of double images. The apparatus of the present invention also allows for the acceleration of the ductor roll in a more controlled manner such that the maximum predetermined speed of the ductor roll may be attained and maintained prior to contact with the ink-receiving roll. Another feature of the apparatus of the present invention is that the driving relationship between the ductorroll and its driving motor may be varied by an adjustable driving connection therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as a ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll, said apparatus including a motor drivingly connected to the ductor roll for rotating the same, means for moving said ductor roll between positions alternately engagingsaid fountain roll and said ink receiving roll, a control circuit connected to said motor including means for controlling the operation of said motor, a first sensor including means for sensing the position of theductor roll, said first sensor being connected to said control circuit and' including means for providing a signal thereto to actuate said motor when the ductor roll is in a predetermined position, said control circuit including means responsive to the signal received from said first sensor to actuate said motor such that the ductor roll is rotated by said motor, and a second sensor connected to said control circuit and including means for sensing the rotational speed of the ductor roll and transmitting a signal dependent on the speed of the ductor roll to said control circuit, said control circuit including means responsive to said last mentioned signal and operable to control said motor so that the speed of the ductor roll is limited to a predetermined maximum speed.

- 2. An apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing .press as the ductor roll moves between the fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 1 wherein said second sensor is drivingly connectedto the drive shaft of said motor to sense the rotational speed of the ductor roll and transmit a signal dependent on the speed of the ductor roll to said control circuit.

3. An apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between the fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 1 which includes drive means drivingly connecting said motor to the ductor roll, said drive means having a variable ratio such that the rotational speed of the ductor rollmay be varied with respect to the rotational speed of said motor.

4. An apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between the fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 1, said first sensor including a rotatable member having a rotational movement corresponding to the movement of the ductor roll between the fountain roll and ink receiving roll, a switch mounted to a fixed member and means mounted on the rotatable member for actuating said switch such that said switch provides a signal to said control circuit when the ductor roll is in the predetermined position.

5. An apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between the fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 10 wherein said means mounted on the rotatable member includes a magnet extending along a portion of the rotatable member includes a magnet extending along a portion of the rotatable member to actuate said switch during the time in which said magnet is adjacent to said switch such that said motor is thereby actuated when the ductor roll is in the predetermined position.

6. An apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between the fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 10 which includes means for pivotally mounting the ductor roll for movement about the axis of the output shaft of said motor and adapted to be actuated by said rotatable member such that the ductor roll is moved between the fountain roll and the ink receiving roll in a predetermined manner.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said ductor roll between the first and second positions includes means for pivoting said ductor roll about an axis of rotation which extends through said motor.

8. An apparatus for driving the ductor roll of a printing press comprising a drive means a motor having an output shaft drivingly connected to the ductor roll by said drive means, said drive means including a drive member non-rotatably secured to the ductor roll, a variable drive member secured to said output shaft, means drivingly connecting said drive member to'said variable drive member, means for adjusting said variable drive member to vary the relative speed between said drive member and said variable drive member, a member pivotally mounted about said output shaft of said motor and having the ductor roll .rotatably mounted thereon, a fountain roll, an ink receiving roll, and means for pivoting said pivotal member about said output shaft for moving said ductor roll between said fountain roll and said ink receiving roll.

9. An apparatus for driving the ductor roll of a printing press as defined in claim 14 wherein said drive member includes a pulley non-rotatably secured to the ductor roll and said variable drive member includes a variable drive pulley drivingly connected to said output shaft of said motor and said means drivingly connecting said drive pulley to said variable drive pulley including a flexible endless belt such that when the diameter of said variable drive pulley is changed, the relative speed between said motor and the ductor roll is changed.

10. An apparatus for driving the ductor roll of a printing press as defined in claim 8 wherein said pivotal member includes means for adjusting the distance between the rotational axis of the ductor roll and the pivotal axis of said pivotal member.

11. An apparatus for driving the ductor roll of a printing press as defined in claim 8 which includes a rotational member driven by the printing press and adapted to pivot said pivotal member about the output shaft such that the ductor roll is moved between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll of the printing press in a predetermined manner.

12. An apparatus for driving the ductor roll of a printing press as defined in claim 8 which includes means for yieldably urging said pivotal member into communication with said rotational member such that said rotational member is drivingly connected to said pivotal member.

13. An assembly for use in a printing press, said assembly comprising a first roll mounted for rotation about a first axis, means for supplying fluid to said first roll, a second roll mounted for rotation about a second axis and spaced apart from said first roll, a ductor roll mounted for rotation about a third axis and movable between a first position in which said ductor roll engages said first roll and is spaced apart from said second roll and a second position in which said ductor roll engages said second roll and is spaced apart from said first roll to thereby provide for a transfer of fluid from said first roll to said second roll by said ductor roll, first means for driving said first roll at a first peripheral speed and for driving said second roll at a second peripheral speed which is faster than said first peripheral speed, means for moving said ductor roll between the first and second positions, and second means for increasing the peripheral speed of said ductor roll to said second peripheral speed independently of said first means'during movement of said ductor roll from said first position to said second position to thereby tend to minimize changes in the load on said first means upon engagement of said ductor roll with said second roll, said second means including drive means for transmitting drive forces to said ductor roll to effect rotation of said ductor roll about said third axis, an electric motor connected with said drive means said electric motor being connected with said drive means, said electric motor being operable between an active condition inwhich said electric motor is effective to apply a drive force to said drive means and an inactive condition in which said electric motor is ineffective to apply a drive force to said drive means and an inactive condition in which said electric motor is ineffective and control means for sensing when said ductor roll is in a predetermined position relative to said first and second rolls and for effecting operation of said electric motor between the active and inactive conditions in response to a sensing that said ductor roller is in the predetermined position.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for moving said ductor roll between the first and second positions includes means for pivoting said ductor roll about an axis of rotation which extends through said electric motor.

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 24 wherein said control means further includes means for sensing the rotational speed of said ductor roll during movement of said ductor roll between the first and second positions and for limiting the rotational speed of the ductor roll to a predetermined maximum rotational speed during movement of the ductor roll between the first and second positions.

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said drive means includes a drive member connected to said ductor roll,- a variable drive member connected to said electric motor, means drivingly connecting said drive member to said variable drive member and means for adjusting said variable drive member to vary the relative speed between said drive member and said variable drive member.

17. An assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein said drive member includes a pulley connected to the duetor roll and said variable drive member includes a variable diameter pulley drivingly connected to said output shaft of said motor, said means drivingly connecting said drive pulley to said variable drive pulley includes a flexible endless belt, and said means for adjusting said variable drive member includes means for varying the diameter of said variable drive pulley.

18. An apparatus for accelerating the rotational speed of a ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll, said apparatus including an electric motor having a rotatable output shaft, said output shaft having a lonpivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of said output shaft of said electric motor, means for pivoting said ductor. roll about the longitudinal axis of said output shaft of said electric motor, and drive means connecting said output shaft of said electric motor to the ductor roll for accelerating the rotational speed of the ductor roll during pivotal movement of the ductor roll about the longitudinal axis of said output shaft of said electric motor, said drive means including a first pulley, means for connecting said first pulley to the ductor roll, a variable pulley, means for connecting said variable pulley to said output shaft, means for adjusting said variable pulley to vary the rotational speed of the duetor roll relative to the rotational speed of said output shaft of said electric motor, and means drivingly connecting said first pulley to said variable pulley such that said electric motor is drivingly connected to the ductor roll.

19. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 18 wherein said drive means includes a member pivotally mounted on one end to said output shaft of said motor and having the ductor roll rotatably mounted on the other end thereof.

20. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim l8 which includes a sensor means for activating said motor when the ductor roll is in a first position.

21. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 18 which includes a sensor means for sensing the rotational speed of the ductor roll such that the rotational speed of the ductor roll when driven by said motor is limited thereby.

22. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 18 wherein said electric motor is operable between an active condition in which said electric motor is efiective to rotate said output shaft and an inactive condition in which said electric motor is ineffective to rotate said output shaft, said means for pivoting said ductor roll being effective to move said ductor roll from a first position to a second position, said apparatus further including control means for effecting operation of said electric motor between the active and inactive conditions when the ductor roll is in the first position.

23. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 18 which includes control means for sensing and limiting the rotational speed of the ductor roll during pivotal movement of the ductor roll about the longitudinal axis of said output shaft of said electric motor.

* i i I Patent No. 3,688,696 Dated September 5, 1972 Inventor s Ernest H. Treff It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 8, line 57, for "10" read L Column 9, line 1, for "10" read L line 13, after means" insert a comma line 29, for "1 4" read 8 Column 10, line 17, after "means" at the end of the line add a comma line .23, after "means" insert a comma and lines 23 to 25, delete "and an. .tive" which is a partial repeat of a previous phrase; and line 36, for "2 read l3 Signed and sealed this 10th day of April 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FL]5TCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 (10-69) uscoMM-Dc 60376-1 69 Q U.S GOVERNMENT PRINTING DFFlCE I959 0-366-334 

1. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as a ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll, said apparatus including a motor drivingly connected to the ductor roll for rotating the same, means for moving said ductor roll between positions alternately engaging said fountain roll and said ink receiving roll, a control circuit connected to said motor including means for controlling the operation of said motor, a first sensor including means for sensing the position of the ductor roll, said first sensor being connected to said control circuit and including means for providing a signal thereto to actuate said motor when the ductor roll is in a predetermined position, said control circuit including means responsive to the signal received from said first sensor to actuate said motor such that the ductor roll is rotated by said motor, and a second sensor connected to said control circuit and including means for sensing the rotational speed of the ductor roll and transmitting a signal dependent on the speed of the ductor roll to said control circuit, said control circuit including means responsive to said last mentioned signal and operable to control said motor so that the speed of the ductor roll is limited to a predetermined maximum speed.
 2. An apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between the fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 1 wherein said second sensor is drivingly connected to the drive shaft of said motor to sense the rotational speed of the ductor roll and transmit a signal dependent on the speed of the ductor roll to said control circuit.
 3. An apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between the fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 1 which includes drive means drivingly connecting said motor to the ductor roll, said drIve means having a variable ratio such that the rotational speed of the ductor roll may be varied with respect to the rotational speed of said motor.
 4. An apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between the fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 1, said first sensor including a rotatable member having a rotational movement corresponding to the movement of the ductor roll between the fountain roll and ink receiving roll, a switch mounted to a fixed member and means mounted on the rotatable member for actuating said switch such that said switch provides a signal to said control circuit when the ductor roll is in the predetermined position.
 5. An apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between the fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 10 wherein said means mounted on the rotatable member includes a magnet extending along a portion of the rotatable member includes a magnet extending along a portion of the rotatable member to actuate said switch during the time in which said magnet is adjacent to said switch such that said motor is thereby actuated when the ductor roll is in the predetermined position.
 6. An apparatus for accelerating a ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between the fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 10 which includes means for pivotally mounting the ductor roll for movement about the axis of the output shaft of said motor and adapted to be actuated by said rotatable member such that the ductor roll is moved between the fountain roll and the ink receiving roll in a predetermined manner.
 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said ductor roll between the first and second positions includes means for pivoting said ductor roll about an axis of rotation which extends through said motor.
 8. An apparatus for driving the ductor roll of a printing press comprising a drive means a motor having an output shaft drivingly connected to the ductor roll by said drive means, said drive means including a drive member non-rotatably secured to the ductor roll, a variable drive member secured to said output shaft, means drivingly connecting said drive member to said variable drive member, means for adjusting said variable drive member to vary the relative speed between said drive member and said variable drive member, a member pivotally mounted about said output shaft of said motor and having the ductor roll rotatably mounted thereon, a fountain roll, an ink receiving roll, and means for pivoting said pivotal member about said output shaft for moving said ductor roll between said fountain roll and said ink receiving roll.
 9. An apparatus for driving the ductor roll of a printing press as defined in claim 14 wherein said drive member includes a pulley non-rotatably secured to the ductor roll and said variable drive member includes a variable drive pulley drivingly connected to said output shaft of said motor and said means drivingly connecting said drive pulley to said variable drive pulley including a flexible endless belt such that when the diameter of said variable drive pulley is changed, the relative speed between said motor and the ductor roll is changed.
 10. An apparatus for driving the ductor roll of a printing press as defined in claim 8 wherein said pivotal member includes means for adjusting the distance between the rotational axis of the ductor roll and the pivotal axis of said pivotal member.
 11. An apparatus for driving the ductor roll of a printing press as defined in claim 8 which includes a rotational member driven by the printing press and adapted to pivot said pivotal member about the output shaft such that the ductor roll is moved between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll of the printing press in a predetermined manner.
 12. An apparatus for driving the ductor roll of a printing press as defined in claim 8 which includes Means for yieldably urging said pivotal member into communication with said rotational member such that said rotational member is drivingly connected to said pivotal member.
 13. An assembly for use in a printing press, said assembly comprising a first roll mounted for rotation about a first axis, means for supplying fluid to said first roll, a second roll mounted for rotation about a second axis and spaced apart from said first roll, a ductor roll mounted for rotation about a third axis and movable between a first position in which said ductor roll engages said first roll and is spaced apart from said second roll and a second position in which said ductor roll engages said second roll and is spaced apart from said first roll to thereby provide for a transfer of fluid from said first roll to said second roll by said ductor roll, first means for driving said first roll at a first peripheral speed and for driving said second roll at a second peripheral speed which is faster than said first peripheral speed, means for moving said ductor roll between the first and second positions, and second means for increasing the peripheral speed of said ductor roll to said second peripheral speed independently of said first means during movement of said ductor roll from said first position to said second position to thereby tend to minimize changes in the load on said first means upon engagement of said ductor roll with said second roll, said second means including drive means for transmitting drive forces to said ductor roll to effect rotation of said ductor roll about said third axis, an electric motor connected with said drive means said electric motor being connected with said drive means, said electric motor being operable between an active condition in which said electric motor is effective to apply a drive force to said drive means and an inactive condition in which said electric motor is ineffective to apply a drive force to said drive means and an inactive condition in which said electric motor is ineffective and control means for sensing when said ductor roll is in a predetermined position relative to said first and second rolls and for effecting operation of said electric motor between the active and inactive conditions in response to a sensing that said ductor roller is in the predetermined position.
 14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for moving said ductor roll between the first and second positions includes means for pivoting said ductor roll about an axis of rotation which extends through said electric motor.
 15. An assembly as set forth in claim 24 wherein said control means further includes means for sensing the rotational speed of said ductor roll during movement of said ductor roll between the first and second positions and for limiting the rotational speed of the ductor roll to a predetermined maximum rotational speed during movement of the ductor roll between the first and second positions.
 16. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said drive means includes a drive member connected to said ductor roll, a variable drive member connected to said electric motor, means drivingly connecting said drive member to said variable drive member and means for adjusting said variable drive member to vary the relative speed between said drive member and said variable drive member.
 17. An assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein said drive member includes a pulley connected to the ductor roll and said variable drive member includes a variable diameter pulley drivingly connected to said output shaft of said motor, said means drivingly connecting said drive pulley to said variable drive pulley includes a flexible endless belt, and said means for adjusting said variable drive member includes means for varying the diameter of said variable drive pulley.
 18. An apparatus for accelerating the rotational speed of a ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll, said apparatus including an electric motor haVing a rotatable output shaft, said output shaft having a longitudinal axis of rotation extending through said electric motor, means for mounting the ductor roll for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of said output shaft of said electric motor, means for pivoting said ductor roll about the longitudinal axis of said output shaft of said electric motor, and drive means connecting said output shaft of said electric motor to the ductor roll for accelerating the rotational speed of the ductor roll during pivotal movement of the ductor roll about the longitudinal axis of said output shaft of said electric motor, said drive means including a first pulley, means for connecting said first pulley to the ductor roll, a variable pulley, means for connecting said variable pulley to said output shaft, means for adjusting said variable pulley to vary the rotational speed of the ductor roll relative to the rotational speed of said output shaft of said electric motor, and means drivingly connecting said first pulley to said variable pulley such that said electric motor is drivingly connected to the ductor roll.
 19. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 18 wherein said drive means includes a member pivotally mounted on one end to said output shaft of said motor and having the ductor roll rotatably mounted on the other end thereof.
 20. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 18 which includes a sensor means for activating said motor when the ductor roll is in a first position.
 21. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 18 which includes a sensor means for sensing the rotational speed of the ductor roll such that the rotational speed of the ductor roll when driven by said motor is limited thereby.
 22. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 18 wherein said electric motor is operable between an active condition in which said electric motor is effective to rotate said output shaft and an inactive condition in which said electric motor is ineffective to rotate said output shaft, said means for pivoting said ductor roll being effective to move said ductor roll from a first position to a second position, said apparatus further including control means for effecting operation of said electric motor between the active and inactive conditions when the ductor roll is in the first position.
 23. An apparatus for accelerating the ductor roll of a printing press as the ductor roll moves between a fountain roll and an ink receiving roll as defined in claim 18 which includes control means for sensing and limiting the rotational speed of the ductor roll during pivotal movement of the ductor roll about the longitudinal axis of said output shaft of said electric motor. 